No matter what happens, it's unlikely that this debate will shrink what you pay for medical treatment.

The president of Central Maine Medical Center told News 8 the topic of health care costs is an issue that is completely separate from this discussion.

One proposal to pay the debt does include more transparency for patients but a patient advocate said that's only the first step in making health care more affordable.

LePage is pushing his plan to renegotiate the state's liquor contract to help bring in the money.

He said paying the debt will have a ripple effect on Maine's economy by creating health care and construction jobs.

"Under my plan, nearly $700 million would surge into the Maine economy as early as this spring," said LePage.

Shortly before LePage testified at the state house, Democrats put out their plan, which includes some reforms like more transparency in medical bills.

"Going forward, we need to understand exactly what we're paying for and why. From Band-Aids to board rooms and aspirins to X-rays, consumers have the right to know how their health care dollars are being spent," said Rep. Mark Eves, speaker of the house.

But others said while more transparency is good, it's just one step in cutting health care costs.

"If you're in the back of an ambulance, you're not going to be consulting a price list," said Mitchell Stein, policy director with Consumers for Affordable Health Care.

Even though patients would have more details about their bills, he said because of an emergency or their geography, they still may not have a choice when it comes to treatment.

"Say you live up in Aroostook County and you know that you could get the service cheaper in Portland. That's an eight-hour drive away. You may not have the time or resources to do that," said Stein.

Whether it's the governor's plan or the one put forth by Democrats, once a bill is signed into law, the debt could be paid off in months instead of years.